USC basketball, Andy Enfield finally win first Pac-12 game

USC’s Nikola Jovanovic, of Serbia, reacts after making a dunk against California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Los Angeles. USC won 77-69. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

USC head coach Andy Enfield pumps his fist during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against California on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Los Angeles. USC won 77-69. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

If USC always played like it did Wednesday night, coach Andy Enfield might tell boosters about making consecutive trips to the Sweet 16.

The Trojans displayed intensity and cohesiveness, things lacking the past two weeks, and it translated into a 77-69 victory against California before 3,523 at Galen Center.

How unlikely was the victory? USC entered the game with an 0-5 record in the Pacific-12 Conference while Cal was 5-0.

“It’s huge,” USC guard Byron Wesley said. “We got the monkey off our back, but at the same time we’re still 1-5 in the Pac-12.”

The Trojans’ streak for futility to open conference play finally ended and it was easy to see why with USC shooting 52 percent. Everything the Trojans failed to do in the first five games they did Wednesday.

“It was a great win,” Enfield said, “especially with what we’ve been going through the past two weeks. We defended and had a lot of energy.”

USC outrebounded the Bears 36-32 and had only 11 turnovers, below its conference average of 16. The Trojans (10-9, 1-5) also moved out of the conference cellar ahead of Washington State (1-6). Cal dropped to 14-5 overall.

Enfield avoided matching USC’s winless streak to start Pac-12 play in 2012 when the Trojans lost their first eight games.

“I was concerned (about the losing streak),” Jovanovic said. “But we’ve been having good practices. Honestly, we had a tough schedule. We just have to play as a team and stop taking contested shots.”

Another boost for USC was freshman guard Julian Jacobs, who lost his place in the starting lineup but responded with 12 points, four assists and no turnovers. His replacement, senior guard Pe’Shon Howard, had 12 points and 10 assists.

“I thought (Jacobs) was a key to the game,” Enfield said.

Jacobs’ layup gave USC a 52-38 lead with 13:21 left that gave the crowd a sense the game might be over. The stats told the story, as USC shot 54 percent to that point while Cal shot 32 percent. It was a rare occasion where USC shot dramatically better than its opponent.

TThe Trojans broke away in the first half when Howard’s 3-pointer gave USC a 35-22 lead. The Trojans led 41-32 at halftime.

USC returns to action Sunday against Stanford at 2 p.m. at Galen Center and the Trojans might be expected to pull off a victory after handling the Bears. USC snapped a four-game losing streak against Cal.